132 
COMMINUTED FRACTURE OF THE TIBIA. 
was twenty miles from the training stables. This gentleman 
directed his veterinary surgeon to go down at once to see the 
horse. He rode there and examined it carefully, but could 
give no decided opinion. He consequently advised that 
another veterinary surgeon should be called in, and my name 
was mentioned. I was requested to attend. I accordingly 
did so, and in the presence of the veterinary surgeon, trainer 
jockey, cum multis aids, proceeded to examine the suffer¬ 
ing animal, who was lying stretched out in the loose box. 
The fact of the horse having been both bled and purged, 
made it difficult to form any opinion at all. I confess I 
never was so much puzzled in my life. I determined, how¬ 
ever, minutely to examine every part of the frame. I com¬ 
menced handling the joints, when, on taking hold of the 
uppermost hind leg, which was the near one, the horse 
winced. I gave the limb a pull, and discovered the large 
metatarsal bone to be transversely fractured. Upon my 
stating this, the trainer exclaimed, “You don’t say sol” I 
appealed to the veterinary surgeon, who said he was perfectly 
satisfied with the correctness of my opinion. Thus, it will be 
seen how difficult it is to pronounce at once upon cases of 
this kind. I happened to be the fortunate individual who 
gave an extraordinary pull, in my moment of vexation , and 
hence the discovery of the fracture. There are cases where 
we cannot handle a limb as we would wish. The one I have 
so imperfectly described in the former part of this note was 
of that class. The probability is, if I had employed consi¬ 
derable force every day , I should have found out sooner than 
the fifth day that a fracture existed; but then I should 
perhaps have been found fault with for meddling, and it is 
just possible that some good-natured persons might have 
declared that I—as watchmakers are stated to do sometimes 
with watch-springs—broke the bone myself. 
I think we are bound to record those cases which from 
time to time come before us, so as to give information to 
those of our brethren whose practice does not afford them the 
means of speaking to facts; and doubtless there are many so 
situated in our profession. While it is by the accumulation of 
facts such as these we are enabled to clear up many difficult 
points that we may meet with. 
